5 FROM FUEL-POOR TO RADIANT: MOROCCO’S ENERGY …
137
electricity to Algeria in 1956. 101 Exports continued until 1973, when
Morocco’s petroleum import bill first exceeded its revenue from phosphate exports. 102 In 1988, Algeria began exporting electricity to Morocco
because drought had reduced Morocco’s hydroelectric production. 103
Today, electrons continue to flow across the otherwise closed border.
Algeria has been less open to electricity integration, particularly with
former colonial powers, than Morocco. According to Muzzo, the Algerian state has long associated energy independence with political independence and decolonization. The discovery of hydrocarbons in 1956
prolonged the Algerian War and contributed to resistance from Algerians
to dreams of Euro-African integration. By 1967, Algeria had reclaimed its
hydrocarbon resources from foreign companies. 104 In contrast, Moroccan
interviewees mostly approached electricity interdependence as part of
industrial policy and strategic trade relations rather than as a threat
to energy independence or a neocolonial scheme. That said, Morocco
and Algeria’s poor relations have likely impeded further North African
or Maghrebi South-South grid integration. Both countries are part of
COMELEC, the North African power grid, but little progress has been
made on deepening integration, and the Arab Maghreb Union, the
regional cooperation organization, has largely failed.
In 1997, Spain became the largest exporter of electricity to
Morocco. 105 ONEE and Red Eléctrica de España built the first transmission interconnection between Africa and the EU in 1997. Exchange
began in 1998, and an additional line was added in 2007. 106 Electricity imports increased from 4.5% of Morocco’s consumption in 2005 to
17% in 2011 due to reduced hydropower generation from drought (see
Fig. 5.3). 107
Transnational grid integration could play an important future role
in balancing intermittency from renewable energy sources 108 and could
reduce natural gas consumption. Currently, feasibility studies are being
conducted for a 1,000 MW transmission cable to Portugal and an additional cable to Spain to allow Morocco to export renewable electricity to
Europe by 2026. 109,110
In 2019, Morocco became a net exporter of electricity to Spain. 111
These low-cost exports originated from the completion of a 1.4 GW coalfired power plant in Safi in 2018, plus greater hydroelectric output due
to increased rainfall. 112 In theory, the Moroccan state could earn rents
from the future export of green electricity. 113 Yet, these rents would likely
be small. If current models of renewable power plant development are
137
electricity to Algeria in 1956. 101 Exports continued until 1973, when
Morocco’s petroleum import bill first exceeded its revenue from phosphate exports. 102 In 1988, Algeria began exporting electricity to Morocco
because drought had reduced Morocco’s hydroelectric production. 103
Today, electrons continue to flow across the otherwise closed border.
Algeria has been less open to electricity integration, particularly with
former colonial powers, than Morocco. According to Muzzo, the Algerian state has long associated energy independence with political independence and decolonization. The discovery of hydrocarbons in 1956
prolonged the Algerian War and contributed to resistance from Algerians
to dreams of Euro-African integration. By 1967, Algeria had reclaimed its
hydrocarbon resources from foreign companies. 104 In contrast, Moroccan
interviewees mostly approached electricity interdependence as part of
industrial policy and strategic trade relations rather than as a threat
to energy independence or a neocolonial scheme. That said, Morocco
and Algeria’s poor relations have likely impeded further North African
or Maghrebi South-South grid integration. Both countries are part of
COMELEC, the North African power grid, but little progress has been
made on deepening integration, and the Arab Maghreb Union, the
regional cooperation organization, has largely failed.
In 1997, Spain became the largest exporter of electricity to
Morocco. 105 ONEE and Red Eléctrica de España built the first transmission interconnection between Africa and the EU in 1997. Exchange
began in 1998, and an additional line was added in 2007. 106 Electricity imports increased from 4.5% of Morocco’s consumption in 2005 to
17% in 2011 due to reduced hydropower generation from drought (see
Fig. 5.3). 107
Transnational grid integration could play an important future role
in balancing intermittency from renewable energy sources 108 and could
reduce natural gas consumption. Currently, feasibility studies are being
conducted for a 1,000 MW transmission cable to Portugal and an additional cable to Spain to allow Morocco to export renewable electricity to
Europe by 2026. 109,110
In 2019, Morocco became a net exporter of electricity to Spain. 111
These low-cost exports originated from the completion of a 1.4 GW coalfired power plant in Safi in 2018, plus greater hydroelectric output due
to increased rainfall. 112 In theory, the Moroccan state could earn rents
from the future export of green electricity. 113 Yet, these rents would likely
be small. If current models of renewable power plant development are